UFC Fight Night: Royval v Taira Predictions

Top contenders Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira will stake their claim for a flyweight title shot when they face off in the main event of UFC Vegas 98 on Saturday night (Sunday morning SA time), writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The co-headliner at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas is a middleweight matchup between Brad Tavares, who went the distance with South Africa’s fighting pride Dricus du Plessis two years ago, and Jun Yong Park. A second scrap at 185 pounds pits Abdul Razak Alhassan against Josh Fremd.

There are two fights at welterweight, with Chidi Njokuani colliding with Jared Gooden, and Daniel Rodriguez meeting Alex Morono. Plus, Grant Dawson and Rafa Garcia go toe-to-toe at lightweight.

MAIN CARD (from 1 AM Sunday SA time):

Brandon Royval (3.10) v Tatsuro Taira (1.38) (Flyweight)

It’s a high-stakes headliner set to deliver fast and furious action.

In one corner, you have the No. 1-ranked flyweight contender in Royval (16-7), a veteran who’s established himself as one of the very best at 125 pounds since bursting onto the UFC scene in 2020.

“Raw Dawg” challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the title last December, losing a unanimous decision, and bounced back with a split decision win over former two-time champion Brandon Moreno in their UFC Mexico City main event clash in February.

In the other corner, you have an undefeated prodigy in Taira. One of the hottest prospects in all of mixed martial artists, the 24-year-old is a perfect 16-0 with six wins in the UFC, including four finishes. The Japanese fighter most recently defeated former title challenger Alex Perez when Perez suffered a knee injury during a takedown in their main event meeting in June.

Royval is a brawler who fights at a breakneck pace. Always moving and constantly feinting, the southpaw bases his striking behind a solid jab and has four knockouts to his name. Grappling is where the 31-year-old really shines, though, as he creates explosive entries and boasts nine submissions.

Taira is a next-generation mixed martial artist. While he’s mainly known as a grappler, he’s showcased a well-rounded skillset since joining the UFC two years ago.

Taira, who has five knockouts and seven submissions to his name, is not just impressive inside the Octagon, where he has speed and skill in equal measure, but outside of it as well. He’s as humble, hard-working and calm as can be with composure well beyond his years.

Royval throws a bit more volume on the feet than Taira, however, Taira is the more accurate striker and more elusive target with a two-inch reach advantage. He’s also the busier grappler, both in terms of takedown attempts and on the ground, where he’s constantly setting up submissions.

It’s here where he should have a decisive edge and win a fun fight to cement himself as the next flyweight title challenger.

Prediction: Taira by submission.

Best Bet: Taira by submission at 2.30.

Alternative Bet: Taira by submission or decision at 1.50.

Brad Tavares (2.54) v Jun Yong Park (1.54) (Middleweight)

The co-main event is set to be a tactical battle between seasoned veterans.

Known for his toughness, Tavares (20-9) is one of just two men who’ve gone the distance with middleweight ruler Du Plessis, dropping a decision to the baddest man in Mzansi in 2022.

Since then, however, he’s been stopped either side of a decision win over former champion Chris Weidman and is looking to rebound from a TKO loss to Gregory Rodrigues in February. He’s far from washed, though.

The 36-year-old is a technical striker with solid takedown defence.

A high-level grappler with power in his hands, Park (17-6) was on a four-fight win streak before suffering a frustrating split-decision loss to Andre Muniz last December.

The Iron Turtle’s last three wins are by submission, however, Tavares has never tapped out. Therefore, this fight will likely go the distance. Park, the younger man by three years, has the wider skillset and the power advantage, so he’s the pick.

Prediction: Park by decision.

Best Bet: Park by decision at 2.40.

Alternative Bet: Park at 1.54.

Chidi Njokuani (1.57) v Jared Gooden (2.45) (Welterweight)

Welterweights looking to build momentum battle it out in the featured bout.

After a 3-3 UFC run at middleweight, Njokuani (23-10) made a successful move down to the 170-pound division in March, halting a three-fight skid with a split decision win over Rhys McKee.

“Bang Bang” is a striking specialist with 14 wins by knockout and a big toolbox that enables him to pick many a man apart if they don’t stay down.

Gooden (23-9) hopes to make the most of his second stint in the UFC.

After winning just one of his four fights in his first go-around in the promotion, he was axed and split his two fights at regional level before answering an SOS on short notice to make his UFC return last March.

It didn’t go his way as he lost a decision to Carlston Harris, but it gave him a foot in the door, and he came good in December when he submitted Wellington Turman.

Aggressive on the feet, “NiteTrain” throws at a very high volume but also gets hit a ton. Now that he’s at welterweight, Njokuani’s one of the taller and rangier strikers in the division and he should use those strengths to make it two from two in his new home.

Prediction: Njokuani by decision.

Best Bet: Njokuani at 1.57.

Alternative Bet: Njokuani by decision at 3.40.

Grant Dawson (1.23) v Rafa Garcia (4.30) (Lightweight)

Dawson (21-2-1) is determined to work his way back into the top 15 of the talent-rich lightweight division and is happy to walk over Garcia (16-3) to get closer to achieving that goal.

He was on a nine-fight unbeaten streak a year ago heading into his first main event only to be knocked out by Bobby Green in just 33 seconds. “KGD” put that disappointment behind him with a decision win over Joe Solecki in June and plans to start another streak this weekend.

A powerful wrestler with excellent jiu-jitsu, Dawson has no less than 13 submission wins to his name and it’s no secret he’ll look to take the fight to the ground.

Garcia, conversely, will want to keep it on the feet in his comeback fight. He hasn’t been inside the Octagon since outstriking all-action veteran Clay Guida last April due to a knee injury and that knee will be tested by Dawson’s takedown attempts.

With a size and strength advantage, Dawson is a heavy favourite and will most likely work his way through Gifted’s guard and force him to submit.

Prediction: Dawson by submission.

Best Bet: Dawson by submission at 4.50.

Alternative Bet: Dawson by decision at 1.64.

Daniel Rodriguez (1.48) v Alex Morono (2.70) (Welterweight)

A former member of the welterweight top 15, Rodriguez (17-5) “goes fishing” in hopes of getting back on track after three straight losses.

Those defeats, it must be said, came against top trio Neil Magny, Ian Machado Garry and former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum, all of whom are levels above Morono (24-10).

“D-Rod” is a crafty southpaw who does most of his work on the feet. 

Morono has been dogged by inconsistency. He’s alternated wins and losses in his last six fights and is coming off a decision loss to Niko Price in June.

A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a tough brawler, his cardio has been a big issue as of late. Given that Rodriguez pushes a steady pace for three rounds, he should reel in “The Great White” to snap his losing streak.

Prediction: Rodriguez by decision.

Best Bet: Rodriguez by decision at 2.50.

Alternative Bet: Rodriguez at 1.48.

Abdul Razak Alhassan (1.61) v Josh Fremd (2.36) (Middleweight)

Middleweights in need of a win will get the main card underway.

Ghana’s Alhassan (12-6) was left fuming after his only fight of 2024 ended in a no-contest because of shots he landed to the back of Cody Brundage’s head. Before that, he was submitted by Joe Pyfer. 

“Judo Thunder” is a knockout artist with a 100% finish rate and with a bee in his bonnet, he’ll be extra dangerous this weekend.

Fremd (11-6) was knocked out by Roman Kopylov and then controlled by wrestler Andre Petroski in July. He’s more well-rounded than Alhassan and will look to mix things up.

If he can weather the early storm, things will likely turn in Fremd’s favour. However, my money’s on Alhassan to put his lights out.

Prediction: Alhassan by knockout. 

Best Bet: Alhassan by KO/TKO/DQ at 1.90.

Alternative Bet: Alhassan at 1.61.